• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Kate the (Almost) Great

Chronic illness blog

  • Home
  • Start Here
    • About
    • As Seen On
    • Tags & Topics
    • Popular Posts
  • Blogging Resources
  • Freebie
  • Shop the Blog
    • Products for the Chronically Ill
  • Contact & Work with Me
    • Ads and Sponsoring
  • Follow
  • Holiday
    • Gift Guides
Text reads: best gift ideas for the holidays, new chronic illness patients, www. kate the almost great .com
in Health, Lifestyle &middot December 1, 2023

Best Gift Ideas for the Holidays: New Chronic Illness Patients

Read the Post »

in Health, Lifestyle &middot December 1, 2023

Best Gift Ideas for the Holidays: New Chronic Illness Patients

This post contains affiliate links and sponsored product placement. I do not share any product or company that I dislike; all opinions are mine. Thank you for supporting Kate the (Almost) Great®!

Shopping for new chronic illness patients this year? I’ve got you covered! These are tools that make coping with chronic illness easier and more fun. From kitchen tools to TENS machines to books to self-care cases, this post has the best gift ideas for people with chronic illnesses.

2023 Gift Guides | All Gift Guides

This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Kate the (Almost) Great®!

Text reads: best gift ideas for the holidays, new chronic illness patients, www. kate the almost great .com
Contents hide
Kitchen Tools
Inadvertent Chronic Illness Tools
Chronic Illness-Specific Tools
Books

Kitchen Tools 

Cooking can be really difficult, but eating is essential to everyone, especially if you have food sensitivities and have to cook most things from scratch.  

Cuisinart Deluxe Can Opener (Chrome) – Using an electric can opener has made my life significantly easier! I’ve put one of these on my own Christmas list.

Cuisinart Deluxe Can Opener 

OXO Salad Spinner 

OXO Upright Sweep Set – Trouble bending down and standing upright again? Get a sweep set!

OXO Hand-Held Spiralizer – 

Kyvol Robot Vacuum Cleaner – Robot vacuum cleaners are so helpful. It’s so nice to have a clean place without putting my body through vacuuming. 

Crucial Ways to Prep for Surgery Recovery Ahead of Time

Inadvertent Chronic Illness Tools 

These are products that aren’t necessarily for chronic illness patients but are super helpful for us!

Fitbit Versa 4 Smartwatch 

Apple Watch Series 8 – I got an Apple Watch this year and I LOVE it!

Personal Microderm Elite Pro – Skip the spa (and exposure to COVID, along with other contagious things) by having high-quality skincare products at home!

7-in-1 Facial Epilator for Women 

Beats Solo 4 Bluetooth Wireless On-Ear Headphones – Distract yourself with good quality headphones!

Beats Studio Buds True Wireless Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Earbuds – Dealing with sensory issues? Don’t want to make a big deal about it? Get these!

SmoothStyle Heated Comb Straightener and Smoother – These enable you to do your hair (and feel good about yourself and feel more normal) with fewer products.

Le Volume 2-in-1 Volumizing Brush Dryer 

Best Gift Ideas for the Holidays: Unique Gift Ideas

Text reads: gifts to give the newly-diagnosed chronic illness patient in your life, www. kate the almost great .com

Chronic Illness-Specific Tools 

These are the tools that you’ve GOT to have if you have a chronic illness.

Soluxe Comfort Weighted Heating Pad for Neck and Back 

Electric Heating Pad 

Prospera OTC TENS Electronic Pulse Massager – TENS machines are absolutely incredible tools and if you deal with chronic pain, you should absolutely get one.

Omron Electrotherapy TENS Pain Relief Device 

Percussion Massage Gun Deep Tissue – Massage guns are great for muscle pain!

Therabody Theragun Relief – Sand 

What No One Tells You About Autoimmune Diseases

Walking Cane for Women and Men, Sleek, Foldable, Collapsible, Lightweight and Sturdy Walking Stick with Comfortable T Handles – Canes are incredible. I love them. These are some great fun ones!

OrthoGlam “Silver Screen” Lightweight Crystal Rhinestone Bedazzled Fashion Cane – God this is a BEAUTIFUL cane. So fun. 

Use code KATEM10 for a discount at Mighty Well!

Mighty Well Self Care Case™ – “The Self Care Case™ offers a customizable, lightweight and durable case to secure and transport diabetic care supplies. The Self Care Case™ includes a built-in binder system – and multiple Resealable Storage Bags for diabetic supplies and medications that can be secured inside the binder or removed from the case to take on the go” (x).

Self-Care Essentials Case – “Ready, Set, Take Care: Face the world with the Self Care Essentials Kit. This carry-all kit includes everything you need for essential travel or a much-needed self care vacation” (x).

Brain Fog Fix Planner – “With the Brain Fog Fix (BFF) planner, we hope to alleviate frustration and conserve your precious time and energy. This planner is more than just a reminder system. It includes space to track daily symptoms, hydration, thoughts and moments of gratitude amidst the daily challenges” (x).

Medical Organizer Care Case – “The Medical Organizer Care Kit simplifies life and keeps your wellness routine on track. Gift the tubie or chronic illness warrior in your life (or yourself) the gift of confidence – and the freedom to ditch the IV pole” (x).

Gift Ideas: Chronic Illness Must-Haves

Text reads: 34 gift ideas for people with chronic illness, www. kate the almost great .com

Books 

These are books by and about chronic illness patients and disabled people. 

The Pretty One (Keah Brown) 

Mean Baby: A Memoir of Growing Up (Selma Blair) 

Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century (Edited by Alice Wong) 

Year of the Tiger: An Activist’s Life (Alice Wong) 

A Face for Picasso (Ariel Henley) 

Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist (Judy Heumann) 

Hacks for Chronic Disease Management That You Need

Like this post? Share it! Then check out: 

Do I Have a Chronic Illness? What You Should Know If You’re a New Patient, Tips To Make Independently Living with a Chronic Illness Easier, What Is Considered a Chronic Illness? And Other Chronic Illness Basics, 6 Tips for How To Accept a Chronic Illness

Kate Mitchell

Kate Mitchell is a blogger, chronic illness patient, and advocate who helps people understand chronic illness and helps chronic illness patients live their best lives.

Share this with your family and friends:

  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr

Related

Previous Post: « Best Gift Ideas for the Holidays: Cyber Week 2023
Next Post: 27 Tricks To Increase Blog Traffic You Need in 2024 »

Reader Interactions

Trackbacks

  1. Ideas for Holiday Gifts: Customized Gifts says:
    November 15, 2024 at 7:00 am

    […] Best Gift Ideas for the Holidays: New Chronic Illness Patients […]

    Loading...
    Reply
  2. Ideas for Holiday Gifts: Cyber Monday Gift Ideas says:
    November 29, 2024 at 7:01 am

    […] Best Gift Ideas for the Holidays: New Chronic Illness Patients […]

    Loading...
    Reply
  3. Ideas for Holiday Gifts: Chronic Pain Essentials says:
    October 19, 2025 at 8:48 am

    […] Best Gift Ideas for the Holidays: New Chronic Illness Patients […]

    Loading...
    Reply

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Kate the (Almost) Great® is a chronic illness lifestyle blog. It is a resource for chronic illness patients and their loved ones.

  • Bluesky
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Threads
  • TikTok
  • Twitter

Categories

Health
Lifestyle
Writing & Blogging

Pages To Start With

  • About Kate the (Almost) Great®: Meet the Health Blogger
  • As Seen On
  • Contact & Work with Me
  • Follow
  • Health Blog Resources I Actually Use + Recommend
  • Newsletter
  • Popular Posts
  • Privacy Policy & Disclaimer Policy
  • Products for the Chronically Ill: My Recommendations
  • Shop
  • Start Here
  • Tags & Topics

Search

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

This blog uses affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Kate the (Almost) Great!

Sign Up for the Newsletter

Please wait...

Thank you for sign up!

Most Popular Posts

  • What Does Arthritis Pain Actually Feel Like?
  • The Lifestyle Changes I Made for My Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • What Every POTS Syndrome Patient Needs for the Summer
  • The Products I Loved (And Wanted) in Grad School
  • Beginner’s Guide: Rheumatoid Arthritis Flare Up
  • What Is the Difference between Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis?
  • Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis: What I’ve Learned
  • 9 Arthritis Products That Help My Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • What Sjögren’s Syndrome Is: A Beginner’s Guide


Bluehost.com Web Hosting $3.95

Health Union Patient Leader Certification

Support KTAG

If you like what I do, please support me on Ko-fi.




Footer

Sign Up for FREE Instagram Challenge

Get 25 FREE Instagram prompts for chronic health creators!

You can unsubscribe anytime. For more details, review our Privacy Policy.

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

Get your FREE Instagram challenge here 

and 

For just $5 get your copy of my ebook Take Your Blog (And Income!) to the Next Level with code "greatest".

.

Kate the (Almost) Great

Chronic health lifestyle blog

Lets Go!
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
There's beauty everywhere, not just in the Maine w There's beauty everywhere, not just in the Maine woods. (Shocking to me, I know.) ⁣⁣⁣
⁣
There's beauty in little things, medium things. There's beauty in ordinary things. ⁣⁣⁣
⁣
In the first cup of coffee of the day with the sun shining into the kitchen. ⁣⁣⁣
⁣
In a completed checklist.⁣
⁣
In a freshly cleaned house. ⁣⁣⁣
⁣
In discovering a new-to-you genre of television that you LOVE. ⁣⁣
In quiet moments with people you care about. ⁣⁣⁣
⁣
There's beauty everywhere. ⁣⁣⁣
⁣
⬛⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣
I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣.⁣
⁣
⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⬛⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣
ID: A beautiful lake and a mossy bank. ⁣
⁣
#MaineLife #207 #MaineLiving #IGNewEngland #Vacationland
Weeks 15 of 2026 Weekly Just trying to get throug Weeks 15 of 2026 Weekly

Just trying to get through!

1️⃣ IVIG time
2️⃣ I got a hair cut last week and then I looked nice at one point!

⬛⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣.

⬛

⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣1️⃣ Looking at Kate’s lap. There’s a pump with tubes attached that go under Kate’s shirt.
2️⃣ Kate takes a selfie. She’s a white woman with auburn hair wearing a navy dress with flowers, a silver Celtic knot necklace, and green glasses. 

#ChronicallyIll #RheumatoidArthritis #SjogrensSyndrome #Fibromyalgia #IVIG
FAQ: What Is Subtalar Fusion Surgery? Background FAQ: What Is Subtalar Fusion Surgery? 

Background: I have tarsal coalition and rheumatoid arthritis and had subtalar fusion in my left foot in 2009 and in my right in 2018. While this was started because of the tarsal coalitions, it is a surgery that can help rheumatoid arthritis, too. 

Video: Kate talks to the camera. There are captions. A black text box at the binning reads “FAQ: What Is Subtalar Fusion Surgery?”. 

#TarsalCoalition #RheumatoidArthritis #SubtalarFusion #AutoimmuneDisease
There will be times when you do everything you can There will be times when you do everything you can to feel better and it won't work. That's not a failing on your part.⁣⁣
⁣
⬛⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣
I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣.⁣
⁣
⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⬛⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣
ID: Screenshot of a Bluesky post. The background is dark teal, and it's written by Kate Mitchell | Kate the (Almost) Great with the username katethealmostgreat.bsky.social. ⁣The text reads what's above the first black box.⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣
#RheumatoidArthritis #PosturalOrthostaticTachycardiaSyndrome #Endometriosis #Fibromyalgia #SjogrensSyndrome
Weeks 13 and 14 of 2026 Weekly Had some rough pai Weeks 13 and 14 of 2026 Weekly

Had some rough pain days in here so I didn’t do a lot and I combined the weeks in 1 post!

1️⃣ Hematology appointment 
2️⃣ PCP, after which an x-ray showed stress fractures in 3 bones 
3️⃣ Tea and cross-stitching

⬛⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣.

⬛⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

1️⃣ Looking at Kate’s lap. There’s a medical bracelet on her wrist and a Kindle on her lap.
2️⃣ Kate takes a selfie in a doctor’s office. She’s a white woman with auburn hair wearing a black t-shirt, silver Celtic knot necklace, apricot mask, and green glasses.
3️⃣ Looking at a table on which is an orchid, an in-progress cross-stitch project, and a mug of tea.

#ChronicallyIll #RheumatoidArthritis #CrossStitcher #DisabledAndCute
Background: I have tarsal coalitions and rheumatoi Background: I have tarsal coalitions and rheumatoid arthritis in both of my feet, and I’ve had resection surgery and subtalar fusion surgeries. I am not a medical professional and am sharing my experience! 

Video: Kate talks to the camera. There are captions. Text reads at the beginning “FAQ: What Was the Recovery from Tarsal Coalition Surgeries Like?”. 

#TarsalCoalition #RheumatoidArthritis #ChronicPain
We've all made this mistake once (or twice or a hu We've all made this mistake once (or twice or a hundred times ...) ⁣
⁣
⬛⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣
I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣.⁣
⁣
⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⬛⁣⁣⁣
⁣
ID: Kate smiles at the camera. A white text box reads "No two chronic illness patients are the same, but we've all given ourselves flares by overdoing it on a good day". ⁣
⁣
#InvisibleIllness #ChronicallyIll #ChronicPain #SpoonieLife #ChronicIllness
SELF-IMAGE WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS⁣⁣⁣ ⁣ It can be rea SELF-IMAGE WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS⁣⁣⁣
⁣
It can be really easy to feel like chronic illness has taken over everything about you and that all you are is a patient. ⁣⁣⁣
⁣
You might be different than you were before you developed symptoms, but that doesn't mean that everything about you is different, even if everything about your life is different. ⁣⁣⁣
⁣
There is no one aspect of our lives that defines all that we are. That's true for LITERALLY EVERYONE! No one is just one thing. We're all many, many things. ⁣⁣⁣
⁣
For example: yes, I'm a chronic illness patient, and yes, I talk about it a lot online. But I'm also someone who is passionate about education, who played 1-3 instruments for 12 years, who is obsessed with her home state, who reads a ridiculous amount of historical fiction, and who has been writing in some capacity for decades. ⁣⁣⁣
⁣
Even if all you know about me is that I'm a chronic illness patient, that doesn't mean that all I am is a chronic illness patient. ⁣⁣⁣
⁣
⬛⁣
⁣
I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣
⬛⁣
⁣
ID: Kate takes a selfie. She's a white woman with auburn hear with a blue sweater, green scarf, and pink glasses.⁣
⁣
#RheumatoidArthritis #Fibromyalgia #Sjogrens #Endometriosis #POTS
PREPARING FOR SUMMER WITH POTS⁣ ⁣ Summer is right PREPARING FOR SUMMER WITH POTS⁣
⁣
Summer is right around the corner. Here are somethings I'm doing now to make it easier. ⁣
⁣
1️⃣ Finding my many fans and making sure they're charged⁣
2️⃣ Increasing my sodium intake ⁣
3️⃣ Making sure I have plenty of @cure, my preferred electrolyte supplement⁣
4️⃣ Getting back into the habit of using Tachymon, the app I use on my watch as pictured here. I have it set to notify me not only when my heart rate gets high, but also when it has changed by a fair amount. Here, it shows my heart rate is 150 and the change from my recent average (104) is 45.6. With POTS, the problem isn't only an increase, but a quick increase. ⁣
⁣
What are you doing to prepare for summer with POTS? ⁣
⁣
⬛⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣
I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣
⬛⁣⁣⁣
⁣
ID: An Apple watch showing a heart rate of 150, recent average of 104, and change from that average of 45.6. A white text box reads "Preparing for Summer with POTS". ⁣
⁣
#ChronicallyIll #PosturalOrthostaticTachycardiaSyndrome #Dysautonomia #POTS #SpoonieLife
Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2026 · Kate the (Almost) Great · Design by Studio Mommy

%d